Shruti Suman
Purnima Sharma, mother of cricket star Rohit Sharma, recently shared a heartwarming post that captured the close bond between Rohit and fellow cricketer Virat Kohli. This came in the wake of India’s triumphant victory over South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 final, a match that also marked the retirement of both Rohit and Virat from T20 international cricket. The duo, who have been key figures in Indian cricket for over a decade, posed for several memorable photos after the final in Barbados. One particularly striking image featured Rohit with his daughter Samaira on his shoulders, alongside Virat, who stood proudly with the Indian flag draped over his back.
This photograph quickly gained widespread acclaim on social media, with Purnima Sharma herself sharing it on Instagram, further endearing the iconic partnership to fans.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C830EC-vrVe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Despite past speculation about a strained relationship between Rohit and Virat, the two have consistently shown their mutual respect and camaraderie. Purnima’s post served as a testament to their enduring friendship, resonating deeply with fans.
Following India’s much-anticipated victory, Rohit posed with the ICC T20 World Cup trophy on a Barbados beach, an image shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“A billion dreams, a billion emotions, and a billion smiles! Mission accomplished. World Cup conquered. We are World Champions. Hey, Captain! You’ve done it,” BCCI announced on X while sharing the celebratory photos.
Reflecting on the final match, India opted to bat first after winning the toss. Despite an early setback at 34/3, a resilient partnership between Virat Kohli (76) and Axar Patel (47 off 31 balls, featuring one four and four sixes) added 72 crucial runs, stabilizing India’s innings. This effort was bolstered by a 57-run partnership between Virat and Shivam Dube (27 off 16 balls, with three fours and a six), culminating in a total of 176/7 over 20 overs.
For South Africa, Keshav Maharaj (2/23) and Anrich Nortje (2/26) were the standout bowlers, with Marco Jansen and Aiden Markram each securing a wicket.
During South Africa’s chase of 177 runs, they faltered early at 12/2. However, a 58-run partnership between Quinton de Kock (39 off 31 balls, with four boundaries and a six) and Tristan Stubbs (31 off 21 balls, with three fours and a six) reignited their hopes. Heinrich Klaasen’s explosive half-century (52 off 27 balls, with two fours and five sixes) posed a significant threat. Nevertheless, a stellar bowling performance by Arshdeep Singh (2/18), Jasprit Bumrah (2/20), and Hardik Pandya (3/20) in the death overs curtailed South Africa’s progress, limiting them to 169/8 in their 20 overs.
Virat Kohli was named as ‘Player of the Match’ for his awesome performance. By securing their first ICC title since the Champions Trophy in 2013, India effectively ended their ICC trophy drought, much to the jubilation of their fans and the cricketing community.
Khushi Sikarwar
